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Church History
LDS Charitable Programs: Humanitarian Aid and Welfare
The LDS Church's humanitarian aid and welfare services reflect its commitment to following Jesus Christ's teachings of service, charity, and self-reliance.
Understanding the CES Letter
The CES Letter is an influential 90-page document by Jeremy Runnells detailing concerns and questions about LDS Church history, doctrine, and practices.
A History of Tithing
Joseph Smith established tithing as a divine law in 1838 to sustain the Church during financial hardship, transforming it into a foundational practice that remains central to Latter-day Saint faith and community.
Authorship of the CES Letter
Jeremy Runnells authored the CES Letter, a comprehensive critique of the LDS Church that has become pivotal in faith transition conversations.
Diversity and the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Explore the history of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and its evolving role in representing diversity within the Latter-day Saint community.
First Black Sister Missionary
How Sareta Dobbs became the first Black woman to serve a full-time mission in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints despite facing the priesthood ban.
Temple Lot Case
The Temple Lot Case reveals how competing branches of the Latter-day Saint movement fought over ownership of sacred land after Joseph Smith's death.
Was Emma Smith Excommunicated?
Emma Hale Smith was instrumental to the early LDS Church, but her relationship with church leadership fractured after Joseph Smith's death.
What is Ensign Peak Advisors?
The investment and asset management firm managing the LDS Church's substantial financial reserves and its role in the Church's global operations.
What is The Edmunds-Tucker Act?
The 1887 Edmunds-Tucker Act was federal legislation that disincorporated the LDS Church and confiscated its property to suppress polygamy.
When was the CES Letter written?
From March 2013 to December 2017, Jeremy Runnells wrote and revised the CES Letter, a document that became influential among ex-Mormons.
Why Did Emma Smith Leave the Church?
Joseph Smith's widow stayed in Illinois rather than follow the church west, choosing a faith path that aligned with her personal convictions about polygamy and succession.